Sipping up faith and family

Let’s get Raw and Real……..DO SOMETHING!

When I woke up this morning, I did not intend to write this blog. In fact, this blog post will most likely offend some people that I know…..but we are in a time when our faith MUST be radical.
When I opened the Magnificat (my Catholic reference for the daily readings and prayers)on my iphone this morning, I read the following two verses:

“I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth. (Isaiah 49:6)

“No one who lights a lamp conceals it with a vessel or sets it under a bed; rather he places it on a lampstand so that those who enter may see the light. (Luke 8:16)

Have you ever entered your child’s room at night to check on them? You debate putting on a light because you don’t want to draw attention to yourself being in the room. You want just enough light to see that little lego that might be hiding on the carpet….hahaha.

What would happen if your husband came in behind you and flicked on the light?

Oh my gosh…I’m cringing just thinking about it. hahaha.

Isn’t that how some of us feel about “stepping out” and letting our views/faith/values shine? We give “just enough” not to offend someone or hurt someone’s feelings?

But…is that being “radical’?

No one who lights a lamp conceals it with a vessel or sets it under a bed; rather he places it on a lampstand so that those who enter may see the light. (Luke 8:16)

SO….let’s get raw and real…..

We are in tough times……we are in mentally and spiritually challenging times.

Our faith continues to be shaken and the darkness around us seems almost consuming.

Everywhere we turn, people are hurting each other. Everyday, our facebook feeds are cluttered with violence and torture.

Most of us would be content to sit behind our computers and use our facebook for cute selfies and funny pictures of our kids. Any hands raised??!! Yep…here’s my hand up in the air….

We scroll past the Facebook posts about Planned Parenthood, ISIS, and the homeless. We don’t want to be uncomfortable. We want to see the pictures that make us feel good. We want to see all the pictures of children returning to school. We want to look enviously at our friends at the beach. We want to see the cute cocktails from the girl’s nights out and the adorable puppies.

Please just show us the adorable puppies. And babies….flood my facebook with precious babies playing with cute puppies….

Don’t make us face reality….because we just MAY have to do something about it.

In the words of my sister in law….BOOM!

Yep….I just “dropped the mic” on you.

Stop scrolling…be uncomfortable.

Yes…you heard me. Be uncomfortable.

Did the thought of that make you uncomfortable? Are you ready to stop reading?

Weren’t the early apostles uncomfortable?! They feared for their very lives. They lived everyday fearful that they might be crucified. We only fear the scorn of our friends.The “confrontations” that may arise from someone challenging our beliefs.

Millions die because…we just don’t want to give up our free time. We sit in our comfy homes thinking “Why don’t more people do something?”

And I challenge you…..DO SOMETHING!!!!

Let me share this insight with you……

Stand outside Planned Parenthood on a Saturday and face the criticism.

My crew stood outside of Planned Parenthood to protest the federal funding of Planned Parenthood. I’m not going to get into a debate here…it’s simple enough for my kids to understand…”this building performs procedures that allow moms to kill their babies while they are in their mommy’s bellies”.

Four faces of horror.

Sweet Pea had already known about abortion.

Fashionista: “Mom….are they only doing abortions today?”

Me: ” No. They are actually closed today. But what do you mean?”

Fashionista: “well…if they do this a lot…how come we have NEVER come here before?”

Ouch…..someone just challenged her parents to “be a light”.

And you know what…she’s right.

But….it’s hard to tell an 8 yr old that this place makes her mom “uncomfortable”. That I want to cry with and for every mom that walks toward this building. That I have only known excitement and support at every pregnancy announcement I had. I don’t know if I can handle that pain in their eyes…..the deep, deep pain….or maybe it will just be coldness. Or maybe I am just afraid that I will feel nothing or that I won’t make a difference.

But she’s right…we have to DO SOMETHING.

I am linking one of the most motivational songs for me from Christian artist Chris West. Please listen to the lyrics, “It’s not enough to do nothing…it’s time for us to do something.”

Maybe the abortion issue is not “your fight”. What is “your fight”?!

What makes you so uncomfortable? Where is God “moving your heart” in ways that hurt you deeply?

Have you even thought about it? Why not? We, as Christians, are being called to action.

There is a war that we are called to fight called indifference.

What side are you on?

What about in your church?! Are you one of the 20% that does 80% of the work or do you silently complain about the “lack of _______________?”……

Do you wish the music was better?….volunteer to lead. Pick up your instrument and join the group. Become a cantor.

Do you wish more people were fed? Volunteer at a soup kitchen. Take your kids shopping for groceries for a food pantry.

Do you feel like the priest/pastor doesn’t “get” you? Invite them over for dinner.

DO SOMETHING.

Matthew 25:35-40For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’